View Full Version : Late Winter Trees of Japan


Tom Velardi
March 7th, 2006, 10:35 PM
Here’s some late winter flowering trees in Fukuoka City, Kyushu, Japan. Spring will be here soon!

Chinese witch hazel, Hammamelis mollis:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/WitchHazelSM.jpg

Unnamed variety of Camellia japonica:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/CamelliaRoseSM.jpg

Japanese Plums, Prunus mume, (or ume) in Maizuru Park at the site of Fukuoka Castle (no longer present):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/UmeMaizuru2SM.jpg

Close up of a red form (called “kobai”):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/kobaiCLSM.jpg

Tom

Greenpaph
March 7th, 2006, 10:58 PM
Tom,

Thanks for the great pictures!

Spectacular Camellia!

thanks

Paphraguy
March 7th, 2006, 10:59 PM
Beautiful photos, especially the trees!

Paphgirl
March 7th, 2006, 11:21 PM
The kobai! With those water droplets! Sigh.... so pristine!

phragfan
March 8th, 2006, 12:06 AM
Ah, Spring. I can hardly wait! Thanks for a preview.

Nynaeve
March 8th, 2006, 12:16 AM
Just breathtaking, really! Thanks!

adiaphane
March 8th, 2006, 01:16 AM
You have such a wonderful eye! All your photographs are very well done and looked like there was a lot of thought behind them.

Park Bear
March 8th, 2006, 07:58 AM
WOW :shock:

paphjoint
March 8th, 2006, 08:27 AM
Excellent pictures, thanks for sharing!

couscous74
March 8th, 2006, 10:27 AM
Beautiful photos! :clap:

phrag guy
March 8th, 2006, 11:56 AM
Excellent pictures,thanks

Shady Character
March 8th, 2006, 12:37 PM
How beautiful! I especially like the prunus. Just a beautiful setting well photographed. Thanks!

nautilus
March 8th, 2006, 03:26 PM
Wow, beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing.
:D

Chun
March 8th, 2006, 05:02 PM
This time again wonderful pictures, great photography... Bravo...! :clap: :clap: :clap: I wish I were in Japan.


<<<Chun

TADD
March 8th, 2006, 05:29 PM
Where can I get some of those plum trees? Awesome Tom, thanks!

Tom Velardi
March 8th, 2006, 06:29 PM
Thanks for the kind comments everyone!

Tadd, you can get Prunus mume in America. Check out this link,Ume (http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/plants/1995wi_midwinter.html), for more information. It is fully cold hardy in USDA zone 7, but becomes marginal in 6a, and probably not at all in 6b (if someone knows otherwise, please inform us). I've heard that it is a short lived tree in the states (around 20 years).

In Japan there are hundreds of different varieties around. It is the first Prunus in bloom here, starting even in late January sometimes, but peaking in late February; a full month ahead of the celebrated cherry blossoms.